Like so many other positions on the Michigan team heading into the season, the defensive line can be considered a strength for the Wolverines this season and many in the know agree that the unit can be considered one of the best the country has to offer.
With returning players Kris Jenkins and Jaylen Harrell, coupled with players expected to take another step in their development like Mason Graham and Braiden McGregor, as well as transfer Josaiah Stewart from Coastal Carolina, the Wolverines have another loaded position group heading into the season.
According to Pro Football Focus, that group can be considered one of the best units in the entire country.
In its top 10 defensive lines in college football list released on Wednesday, the Wolverines appear at the number three spot behind Ohio State and Georgia.
Here's what PFF had to say:
The Wolverines have a top-five interior defensive lineman in the country in Kris Jenkins, whose 31 run-defense stops in 2022 were tied for the most among FBS defensive tackles. Next to him is Mason Graham, who was named to PFF’s preseason All-Big Ten second team. Last year, Graham led all true freshman defensive linemen with an 80.3 grade.
Josaiah Stewart was also on the second team of our preseason All-Big Ten list after transferring to Michigan from Coastal Carolina. As a true sophomore in 2022, his 40 pressures and 83.3 pass-rushing grade were top-20 marks among Group of Five edge defenders. Jaylen Harrell is also a returning starter along the edge and tied for seventh among Big Ten edge defenders with six sacks last season.
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